Thursday

Dec 27, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 27, 2012 at 2:51 AM

Last call.

That will occur at Gillette Stadium on Sunday when Gil Santos, the Patriots’ veteran play-by-play voice from Raynham, is joined by Gino Cappelletti, his longtime sidekick, at the outset of that afternoon’s game with the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium.

The duo will be honored on the field prior to Sunday afternoon’s 4:25 kickoff, then reunited in the booth for the early portion of flagship station WBZ-FM’s broadcast of the game.

After 32 years, 28 of them with Santos, Cappelletti retired as the Patriots’ color analyst prior to the start of this season.

Santos, who is in his 36th year as the team’s play-by-play man, will call it a career at the end of the season.

Sunday’s game will be the 743rd of Santos’ career.

“It’s a pretty great twosome they’ve had for a long time,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Wednesday.

“I don’t get to hear them much on the radio, obviously, but on some of those highlight videos that we’ve had where you hear Gil’s call it’s pretty special so they’ll be missed. They’re a great group.”

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick likened New Englanders’ experience listening to the calls of Santos and Cappelletti to his days growing up in Annapolis, Md., watching the Baltimore Colts.

“Gino and Gil have been doing it for so many years,” said Belichick. “It’s changed this year (with Scott Zolak replacing Cappelletti as analyst) and then there will be another one next year (when a new play-by-play voice succeeds Santos), but it’s kind of the passing of the torch at that role and I know that, for the fans, that’s huge because that’s oftentimes their connection to the team. They hear that every week, thousands and thousands of fans.

“I know that was the case when I grew up watching the Colts. It was Chuck Thompson. He was the voice of the Colts, and as a fan you felt more of a connection to him than anybody else because that’s the guy you heard the most from. So I know Gil and Gino have meant a lot to this organization, and there’s a great affection for them from our fans.

“Gil coming back and doing it one more year, we see him every week on the plane,” said Belichick. “He’s been a real staple for us and it’s been very supportive, been a good personal relationship with Gil, and we’ll miss him.”

Gronk one of 21: The Patriots listed 21 players, including tight end Rob Gronkowski (forearm/hip), as limited in practice on Wednesday.

“From hereon out, (I’ve) just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” said Gronkowski, out since breaking his forearm in the Patriots’ 59-24 romp over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 18. “Listen to the trainers, taking it day by day, going out there and practicing, getting back in the groove with my teammates.”

Practice squad filled: The Patriots filled the three openings on their practice squad Wednesday with the signings of wide receiver Kamar Aiken, running back James Develin and defensive back Cyhl Quarles.

All three have been on the Patriots’ practice squad this season, with Aiken (last Sunday at Jacksonville) and Develin (Dec. 16 vs. San Francisco) earning promotions to the active roster and appearing in one game apiece.

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